“The Hunger Games” made Jennifer Lawrence into a household word with her iconic role as the bow-wielding revolutionary, Katniss Everdeen. Fans have longed to see Katniss again ever since 2015’s “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2.” Well, now Lawerence and Josh Hutcherson, who played Katniss’s love interest Peeta Mellark, seem to be returning for the next “Hunger Games” movie.
Jennifer Lawrence and Josh Hutcherson Return to “The Hunger Games”
As reported by People, multiple sources have stated that Lawrence and Hutcherson will be reprising their roles as Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark in the upcoming prequel, “Sunrise on the Reaping.” There was an earlier “Hunger Games” prequel in 2023, “The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes,” but Lawrence and Hutcherson were not in it.
“Sunrise of the Reaping” is based on author Suzanne Collins’ latest “Hunger Games” novel, published earlier in 2025. The novel tells the story of the young Haymitch Abernathy, who mentored Katniss and Peeta in the first “Hunger Games” book and movie. In “Sunrise on the Reaping,” Haymitch is competing in the 50th Hunger Games, twenty-four years before the original “Hunger Games” novel.
What Will Katniss and Peeta Do in the New Movie?
Since “Sunrise on the Reaping” is a prequel, not a sequel, it is likely that Katniss and Peeta will have bit parts in a frame story. Fans will remember how “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2” ended with an epilogue where Katniss and Peeta are married and have a baby. Perhaps they will be telling the story of the fiftieth Games to their child.
While seeing Lawrence and Hutcherson reprise their iconic roles will definitely fill fans with the warm feels, the fans also have to wonder if we will ever get an actual sequel to the original “Hunger Games” trilogy. That likely depends on whether or not Collins ever decides to continue Katniss and Peeta’s story.
Is Woody Harrelson in “Sunrise of the Reaping”?
Since the story of “Sunrise of the Reaping” centers around a young Haymitch, fans would definitely like to see Woody Harrelson return as the older Haymitch. If there will be a frame story mechanic in the movie, it would be neat to see Harrelson talk about the horror of his childhood Games. However, as of the writing of this article, he is not confirmed to return. At least fans can enjoy seeing Lawrence and Hutcherson again.
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